Ask Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen discussion

Welcome to the group! Tess and Lisa will be answering questions on Friday, January 9th in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for them, or just want to introduce yourself, feel free to do so in this thread.

Lisa. I'm excited to read more about Tessa Leoni (as I've just finished listening to Love You More) in Crash & Burn but am curious as to when the next DD Warren book will be out. She is one of my absolute favorite fictional characters.

Lisa, I would like to know where you get your ideas for your books. Every book of yours that I've read is terrifying, and yet is so hard to put down. I'm a big fan!

I just want to say Thank you for developing such great characters and such great storylines. I've been reading both of you for years now and really enjoy your books. Even the TV series Rizzoli and Isles is done well which does not always happen. Any tips you can give to someone like myself who has dabbled in writing (published news articles & book reviews, and personal poems and short stories) who would like to try writing a novel?

Do you get any of your ideas from current events?

Hi! What motivated you to write detective novels? And, when you read, what is your favorite genre?

Hi! You both write amazing books! I was wondering what your process is for researching information. Where do you begin? How long does it take you to compile all of your research into a reading novel? Do you have any tips or tricks that you use to make sense of and later write about all of the massive information you undoubtedly find? Thanks so much!

Ms. Garner,
I started reading you on a regular basis after The Perfect Husband - wonderful by far! Do you think up the villain first, then plot the storyline? Or does the storyline reveal the villain in delicious layers?

A lot of people complain that mysteries are too formulaic. How do you keep your stories fresh--how do you keep them from merely following s formula?

For Dr.Gerritsen;
Do you ever consider going back to the practice of medicine?
Are the medical details in the books accurate, or do you take literary license?

Hi Tess - I have enjoyed reading the Rizolli and Isles series since the beginning, and I also enjoy the TV Series. There are obviously some differences between the characters and their portrayal. Are there any character traits from the TV characters you wish you had used for Rizolli and Isles in the books, and have you found that since the show has started you have altered the characters at all in the books?

Hi Lisa - do you use people you know as inspiration for your main characters? For example Tessa and DD?

Thanks for your amazing books. Can't wait to read the new ones.

Regards,
Cathy

Hello Lisa, and thank you for taking the time to visit us. I'm curious how far you've taken it in learning about the different subjects you write about. For example, have you taken extra courses in forensic science, or studied the area of psychopathy and/or sociopathy, or do you gain most of your knowledge through thorough interviews of people in the necessary fields?

Greetings - this question is to both of you: who plans your book tours? Do you always go to big cities such as Chicago, New York?. Us fateful fans would love it if you could make a stop in Des Moines Iowa. Thanks in advance and looking forward to the release of both books.

This is for Lisa, I just wanted to thank you very much for having so many amazing female characters in your stories - in crime books they are usually so often the faceless victims rather than the strong protagonists. With such great female leads, & books dealing with issues such as rape in Survivor's Club, would you say that you're a feminist? If yes, do you find it has impacted how you approach your stories?

just wanted to say love both of you ladies! love the books, i just finished reading Die Again and have read all but the last book by Lisa...

one question i do have is for Lisa, why have you gotten away from Quincy and Rainie and are we ever going to get to see more of them? while i do enjoy the DD and Tessa books, the fbi profiler books were my favorite by far!

and a question for Tess, is there any plans for more books like the bone garden? loved that period piece, the medical details about that period were brutal, but i loved every word of it.

thanks ladies for taking the time for your fans here!!

Lisa,

We get to know many of your characters as they return in multiple books. Have any of them surprised you with the direction they've gone in throughout the course of your writing? If so, who has surprised you the most and why?

Hi Tess,

I loved the latest Rizzoli & Isles! I was wondering, are we going to see the Mephisto club and the Evensong boarding school again?

Hey Lisa,

I absolutely adore your novels!

I'm really excited about this Tessa Leoni spin-off. How many books do you have planned for this new series?

Are we getting a new D.D. Warren novel in the future? Ate D.D. and Tessa going to cross paths?

Hi Lisa and Tess, I'm a big fan of both of you.
Looking forward to the new books!

I am a huge fan of both of you, I patiently wait for both of you to publish, so very excited two new books to fill a couple of days of reading. My question is who do you read? Who are your favourite crime authors as I read a lot faster Than you two publish!

It seems that both of you have tried and true characters that you evolve through your books. Do you ever wish that you could go back and change the path of one or more of your charters? If so would you care to share?

Lisa I have read every one of your books! Once I start reading a book I can't put it down! I am a D.D. Warren fan also! Happy New Year and I look forward to your new book!!!

I don't have a question, but I wanted to say that I love the books both of you write. Thank you for proving that women don't have to only read or write dumb romance novels!

Ms. Gerritsen, I was at the library in Sea Isle City, NJ in June when you were there. I just wanted to thank you for doing that. My friend and I had an amazing time and we both loved you! Your talk was fascinating and you could not have been nicer or more accommodating. It's always nice when someone you admire lives up to your expectations.

Ms. Gardner, I'd love it if you did something similar! I love your books because I can never figure out where you're going with them.

Thank you ladies; keep writing strong female characters!

Tess I just wanted to express my appreciation for your fantastic series. I loved the safari idea and the seamless jumping between Boston and Africa!

YOU HAVE GREAT WRITING SKILL.

Lisa,

I really enjoy your Det. D.D. Warren series, I was turned on by your character in Alone, not realizing that it was a series. Do you recommend that your readers read the series in order or does it matter? Also, is the Tessa Leoni character intertwined with ex-FBI profiler Quincy, in any way and will you be making them into their own series anytime soon?

Thank you,
Samantha

Tess,

I just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed all your R&I mystery novels! They have kept me up during multiple nights, please continue writing. But I do have a question, since I'm pretty sure that you have seen your creation turn into a hit television show, do you ever get calls from production asking for advice?

Lisa,
I am relatively new to your books, and I cannot wait to read them all. My question is about your D.D. Warren books, is it better to read them in order? Also, I live in Columbia SC and is there a chance that you will be doing any autograph signings in the general area? I would love to meet you. Keep up the great writing.

For Tess, how do you feel about the TV series Rizzoi and Isles? Are you happy with actresses portraying your characters? I can't help but picture the actresses and characters reversed! I love the series though and your books! I hope Maura finds love...keep them coming.

Hi ladies!! As you can tell by my pic, I've met both of you AT THE SAME TIME!! Best day (besides the birth of my son) EVER!!

I love both of you ladies and am always excited for any new books you both bring out. My question is non book related to change the pace a little...

What is your favorite meal/type of cuisine?

Thank you for your strong women characters. Y'all are the best!!

Hi Lisa and Tess, I'm a big fan of both of you. I love reading mystery, crime, psychological suspense thrillers. Looking forward to the new books!

My questions are who do you read?
Who are your favourite crime authors?
Who was your mentor and what one main thing did they advise you to do or not to do for success...and did you follow it?
How much time is spent on research for a new novel?

Happy New Year to both of you, and never settle for less. Much success to both of you.

Sue from Toronto

This question is for Tess. Do you plan to write any stand-alone novels in the near future that don't have Rizzoli or Isles as the central characters?

Hi. This question is for Gerritsen.
How far do you think an author should go in telling readers about rape in a story? Do you think the author has to be completely descriptive (eg, thrusts, sexual organs, sounds) or do you think it's enough to be just informed "he/she was raped" and move on with the story?
I'm asking this cos I read a rape scene in one of your early Isles/Rizzoli stories...my body was reacting to the description, so I tore up the book and dumped it in the trash, didn't finish the story.

Hi Tess, I'm a big fan of you and your books, I've devoured your Rizzoli and Isles books in a very short time!

I wanted to ask you: which book did you like to write the most? Is there are personal favorite? Also, your name sounds very Dutch, do you have roots in the Netherlands? Can you speak a little Dutch?

I hope you'll keep writing for a long time, thanks for all the great writing!

Hi Tess, I love your books, have read all the Rizzoli and Isles books and most of your stand alone books too. I was wondering, due to the very sad passing of Lee Thompson Young, will you be removing the character of Frost from your novels, I have your latest, but haven't started reading it yet so you might have already answered my question. I know the novels and TV show are vastly different, but I was just wondering. Could you let me know where I could get a signed Rizzoli and Isles novel, as I can't make any dates on your UK book tour as I live in South Wales, is there a shop or a mail order shop I could get one from? Many thanks for your time, I absolutely love your work and I am looking forward to reading your new book. Take care, all the best, Mike Thomas.

Hi Mrs Gerritsen, i read your book "Body Double", i loved it and it was really hard to put it down. And i think the fact that you are a doctor made the story look real. I wanted to ask you, did it affect you emotinely when you were writing about Maura describing the body of her double like it was her own, like she was seeing herself dead?

Lisa what do you like to do for fun?

FYI - to make it easier on the authors - if you bold your question they can find it quicker and easier

this is what other groups have done when authors do Q & A's

This question is for both of you...how did you know your writing was strong enough to try to publish it? Also, do you have a writing regimen because I am the queen of procrastination so I don't believe I will ever finish any of my writing attempts.

This question is for both of you...how did you know your writing was strong enough to try to publish it? Also, do you have a writing regimen because I am the queen of procrastination so I don't believe I will ever finish any of my writing attempts.

Lisa,

Was it always your intention to give Tessa her own series, or did it just happen?

Thank you for the opportunity to ask my question. This is for Tess, I have read almost all of your Rizzoli and Isles books and love them. My question is after all this time that the show has been on the air do you still work with them on getting it right? I know that did in the past and just wondered if you continue to do so? Also it must be wonderful to watch your babies come to life, what was your first thought when you saw your first one?

Love your books, thanks so much for all your hard work.

Donna

I'd like to ask a couple of questions please?

1, I'd like to ask Tess, Do you watch the Rizzoli and Isles Tv Show?
(I love the show and think the casting of the actresses who play Jane & Maura was/is perfect!)

2, Has the TV show Rizzoli and Isles affected or influenced the way in which you feel/write about Jane & Maura at all?

Thanks so much for the fantastic books! My whole family have read your book, from my dad, myself, then my mum tried and loved them and once I considered (my now 18yr old) my daughter old enough she has read some of them too. My mum, myself and my daughter are all fans of the show too.

Lisa,
I love your books. I was wondering if we are ever going to see more of Pierce Quincy and Rainie and also Kimberly Quincy? I really enjoyed reading about them. Also do you have any stand alone novels coming out?

Tess,
I love your rizzoli and isles books as well as your medical suspense books. I wanted to know if you are planning to write more medical suspense books?

I have enjoyed both Lisa and Tess books. This is for both authors: Do you have an idea of how a story is going to go when you start writing or have you ever started with an ending of a story and take it from there? In other words, how do you lay out the story and where do you find your plots?? Thanks so much for keeping us interested. You both are outstanding authors!!

Kate wrote: "Lisa,

We get to know many of your characters as they return in multiple books. Have any of them surprised you with the direction they've gone in throughout the course of your writing? If so, who..."

Lisa, this is a great question and I would like to know the answer too. Thanks!

If approached would either of you accept a request to be on "Dancing With the Stars"? ;) I think they absolutely need to have some authors representing! I've heard that Heather Graham can dance. How about you? Seriously, I am going to start a petition :)

Lisa, I noticed on Tess's book ad for "Die Again" they quote you as saying "Harrowing". On the TV show Castle they had a scene where he had rec'd a request for a review/comment and he threw out a word saying he never reads them...nobody does. Is that fiction or is there some truth to it? Lisa/Tess, I enjoy reading your books!

I have heard that lawyers are frustrated writers at heart. Could the same be said for medical professionals?
What prompted you to start writing?

Hi dear Gerritsen, would you like to come to Turkey again? You have lots of fans here